After successful completion of the course, students are able to implement a construction task in a development context in a cooperative process.

The class will be held in combination with the excursion 251.702 Excursion Non-Western Architecture.

DESIGN/BUILD: BUILDING A LIBRARY IN NSUTEM, GHANA

The goal is to plan and build a school library in the village of Nsutem in southern Ghana.

The focus is on the following points:
- Ecological sustainability: use of sustainable, local building materials (mainly clay)
- Social sustainability: building together - implementation as a joint project of
Students with the villagers and pupils
- Economic sustainability: use of inexpensive materials (clay), promotion of
local economy (craftsmen, construction workers)

The goal is to implement a sustainable construction method that raises awareness of your own
Building tradition strengthens, gives earth building a progressive face and thus acceptance for
strengthens this sustainable building material.

In order to complete the course, students have to work on site for at least 3 weeks. The length of stay can also be longer.

Project of reference: Building a Cafeteria in North Ghana, 2017: www.mudcafeteria.org

The students are not only offered the opportunity to get to know clay in all its facets, but also all difficulties, hurdles and of course the successes that come with implementing a 1: 1 project in a development context.

The design for the library will be carried out by two diploma students in the summer semester 2020
Architectural faculty of the Vienna University of Technology elaborated, the implementation will take place within the scope of this course in summer 2020 (July / Aug. / Sept). Based on the
In traditional clay construction, the library works in collaboration with the students
Community and the students as well as local construction workers implemented.
The library in Nsutem will be built in the immediate vicinity of an existing public school
and will also be used by two other schools within a 5 km radius. Furthermore stands the
Library available to the entire population outside of school hours. The books
are provided by the Ghanaian NGO BookDropGhana. In addition, the library also
Get computer workstations with internet access. Responsibility for ongoing operations
the school library is taken over by the Council of Elders in Nsutem.

Lectures to prepare for on-site use:

- Design / build projects in the context of development policy

- Earth building techniques in a global comparison

- Social impact of design / build projects

- The village of Nsutem and project presentation

Appointments:

Always on Wednesday, 4 pm, Seminar room 251-1, Stair 3, 3rd floor.

11.03.2020

• Introduction 
• Project presentation

25.03.2020

• Lectures: "Lehmbautechniken weltweit" and "Bauen im Entwicklungskontext"

22.04.2020

• Last chance for registration!

Additional possible dates: 06.05., 27.05

• Lectures/discussions

17.06.2020

• Last meeting before excursion.

Implementation: July/August/September, minimum length of stay: 3 weeks

• Construction site in Nsutem, Ghana (dates vary, to be discussed)

Kosten:

• Room and board in Ghana for 3 Wochen: app. € 450,-
• Flight: between € 450,- and 650,-
• to be considered: Costs for visa and vaccinations
• ev. share in project costs (will be discussed in the introductory lecture)

For more detailed information see brochure in "literature"!

- Participation in the preliminary seminars

- Active participation on the construction site. Minimum: 3 weeks

Detailed information brochure for download - see TISS Communication

Crafting skills and travel experience in non-European countries are desirable.